RACES TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Voters must choose candidates in crowded city council contests, several with issues such as police reform
In addition to choosing the next president of the United States, Contra Costa County voters will be weighing in on crowded city council races — where hotbutton issues such as police reform and affordable housing are shaping candidates’ platforms — and a host of sales tax proposals touted by supporters as crucial to maintaining government services through an economic recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Here’s a look at some of the notable races and ballot measures:
Sales tax increases
All county voters will see Measure X on the ballot, which proposes to increase the county sales tax half a cent to generate an estimated $81 million a year.
If approved, Measure X would raise the sales tax rate across the county to at least 9.75% and up to 10.25%, depending on current rates in its cities, for 20 years.
Proponents of the measure say the money is needed to help pay for public safety, early childhood education and other services, but because it’s a general tax the money could be spent any way the Board of Supervisors sees fit.
San Pablo, Concord and Orinda voters also will be asked to extend or increase sales taxes in their cities. Like the county’s Measure X, the cities’ measures need just a simple majority of votes to pass.
Antioch race, growth boundary measure
A very different measure is on the ballot in Antioch, where Measure T would set the city’s growth boundary and leave any adjustments up to voters. If approved, the net effect of the measure would be to reduce the number of homes allowed within a 4- squaremile zone in southeast Antioch known as the Sand
Creek Focus Area.
Besides Measure T, Antioch has elections for every council seat, the mayor’s seat, the treasurer and the city clerk. The city has switched from at-large to district elections for the city council. As a result, District 1 and 4 seats will be two-year terms and then four-year terms starting in 2022, while the mayor and District 2 and 3 seats will be four-year terms starting this year.
Current mayor Sean Wright will try to defend his seat against Councilman Lamar Thorpe and contender Julio Jesse Mendez.
In District 1, Councilwoman Joy Motts is facing challengers in Tamisha Walker, a nonprofit director and activist, and Manuel Louis Soliz, Jr. In District 2, retired police Lt. Mike Barbanica is running against former Councilman Tony Tiscareno.
In a crowded District 3 race, Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock faces Marie Arce, Nichole Gardner and Antwon Webster. In District 4, Councilwoman Monica Wilson faces Sandra White and Alex Astorga.
Appointed City Treasurer Jim Davis is being challenged by finance accounting technician Lauren Posada.
Richmond City Council
Richmond also is holding district elections for the first time, with three seats up in districts 1, 5 and 6. With the backing
of the Richmond Progressive Alliance, Councilman Willis is seeking the District 1 seat against Eleanor Thompson, a commissioner for the parks and recreation department, who founded a youth-focused nonprofit nearly 30 years ago.
Former Richmond mayor Gay le McLaughlin— among the slate of candidates supported by the Richmond Progressive Alliance—is running for the District 5 seat against small business owners Ah mad Anderson and Mike Vasilas. In District 6, Vinay Pimp le—an attorney and former software engineer who was appointed to the council in 2015 for two years — is running against Claudia Jimenez, a Richmond Progressive Alliance member and community organizer, and La’ Tanya Dandie, a mental health worker who goes by Ms. Dandie.
Walnut Creek City Council
In Walnut Creek, police reform and racial justice have emerged as key issues in the race for three at-large city council seats. Council members Loella Haskew, Kevin Wilk and Justin Wedel are defending their seats against newcomers, including two who have been critical of the city’s social justice efforts.
After the police shooting of Black resident Miles Hall last year, friends and family have pushed for change in policing and responses to mental health crises. Many of them have endorsed
Kurtis Reese, an information technology manager who helped create the police chief’s advisory board in the wake of Hall’s death. Candidate Michael Samson has called for more bold reform and a 50% cut of of the police department budget.
The other candidates are Cindy Darling, a longtime planning commissioner, and Hailey Ayres, a Walnut Creek native who’s been involved in local nonprofit boards and other leadership roles.
Concord City Council
Concord began transitioning to district council elections in 2018, so seats in districts 2 and 4 are up for election. While incumbent Edi Birsan in District 4 faces no challengers, District 2 Councilwoman Carlyn Obringer will face several people trying to unseat her.
Among them is Hope Johnson, a Concord native and legal analyst who has been a fixture at council meetings and community groups; Harmesh Kumar, a perennial candidate for local races; Paul Wood, a retail executive manager; and Tristan Piper, a 31-year resident.
Board of Supervisors
County residents in District 5, which encompasses Martinez, Pittsburg, Hercules, parts of Pinole and Antioch, as well as the unincorporated communities of Rodeo, Pacheco, Crockett, Bay Point, Port Costa, Clyde, Reliez Valley, Tormey and the Alhambra Valley, will decide whether to reelect longtime Supervisor Federal Glover or replace him with County Assessor Gus Kramer, whose trial for misconduct while in office has been scheduled for next week.
Legislature
For state Assembly District 14, which encompasses parts of Contra Costa and Solano counties, Assemblyman Tim Grayson is defending his seat against Republican challenger Janell Proctor, who has been endorsed by the Pittsburg police officers union. For his part, Grayson has received support from labor, firefighters’ and teachers’ unions.